Module 4. The Intersection of Healthcare and Public Health Systems

Home » Virtual Public Health » Public Health modules » 2. Public Health Practice and Policy » Module 4. The Intersection of Healthcare and Public Health Systems
Headshot of Robert (Bob) Lutz, MD, MPH · Public Health course director
Robert (Bob) Lutz
MD, MPH · Public Health course director
envelope icon
Headshot of Judi Marcin, MD, MFA, Faculty
Judi Marcin, MD, MFA
Faculty
envelope icon
Headshot of Chaise Zozaya, MPH, MBA · Course director
Chaise Zozaya
MPH, MBA · Course director
envelope icon

In Module 4, you’ll explore the intersection between healthcare and public health systems. You’ll examine the historical divide between medical education and public health, its roots, and its ongoing impact.

The module includes an overview of the U.S. healthcare system—highlighting its strengths, weaknesses, and persistent disparities. You’ll also analyze health policy through a public health lens. Finally, you’ll revisit the role of physicians as advocates, with a focus on advancing public health, promoting equity, and driving policy change.

Module 4

  1. The Schism Between Medicine and Public Health (Video: ~18 min.) 
  2. International Health Care System Profile: United States. This article includes strengths, weaknesses, and disparities and is the best overview.
  3. U.S. Healthcare System Overview. This is a good overview for Background and Decision Makers and Influencers. 
  4. Complexity in the U.S. Health Care System Is the Enemy of Access and Affordability. 
  5. 2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.
  6. Portrait of American Healthcare. 
  7. Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System Comparing Performance in 10 Nations. 
  8. Advancing Racial Equity in U.S. Health Care.  
  9. 2023 Scorecard on State Health System Performance.  This provides state comparisons. 

 

Analysis of current health policy issues, such as access to care, healthcare financing, and insurance coverage using a public health framework/lens 

  1. KFF. Be familiar with this organization and its work. 
  2. KFF Introduction. This is a great set of chapters on health policy. 
  3. Drug Costs and Their Impact on Care: Insights from Medicare Patients and Providers.

 

Discussion of the role of physicians in advocating for healthcare and public health policy change and improving the health of the public, especially those who have historically been marginalized

  1. Physicians as Advocates for Social Change.  
  2. Advocacy by Physicians for Patients and for Social change.
  3. Advocating for Public Health.
  4. AMA history.
  5. Inside the American Medical Association’s Fight over Single-payer Health Care. The New Yorker.
    This article talks about how the AMA has lobbied for years to prevent single payer coverage 
  6. Access to Healthcare and Disparities in Access. NIH. 
     

Critiques

  1. Looking to 2025: Changing Health Care, and the Need for Courage.
  2. Health Care Costs and Affordability. KFF.
  3. The essential role of physician as advocate: how and why we pass it on. PubMed.

Warning: Copyright restrictions

This course content and all writings and materials provided to you at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine are protected by federal copyright law and Washington State University policy. The content is copyrighted by the Washington State University Board of Regents or licensed to the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine by the copyright owner. Limited access to this content is given for personal academic study and review purposes of registered students and faculty of Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. You shall not otherwise copy, share, distribute, modify, transmit, upload, post, republish, reuse, sell, gift, rent, lend or otherwise disseminate any portion of this course content without permission in writing, signed by an individual authorized by Washington State University.

 

The Digital Publishing team makes every effort to ensure these educational materials are accessible to all learners. If you run into problems, please contact us with your concerns at medicine.digipub@wsu.edu. We will respond within 2 business days.

Site Menu